Ukraine official tells Chinese envoy it will not accept loss of territory; UK, Netherlands to procure fighter jets as Japan plans to accept wounded soldiers

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has told a Chinese envoy that his country will not accept a peace proposal that involves ceding territory to Russia.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that Kuleba met the Chinese government’s Special Representative Li Hui, who is in charge of Eurasian affairs.

Li was on a two-day visit to Ukraine in keeping with an agreement made last month by phone between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The ministry said Kuleba briefed Li on the principles of restoring a sustainable and just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China had issued a document in February urging Ukraine and Moscow to hold dialogue and work on a ceasefire.

But the paper did not call for withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine.

Kuleba apparently warned China, which remains close to Russia, not to push ahead with peace talks in a way that would benefit Moscow.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed on Tuesday to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with military support, including fighter jets.

The British prime minister’s office says that this framework will enable countries to offer a wide range of support, such as training for pilots. It will also help Ukraine procure the F-16 fighter jets that it has been demanding.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba suggested that his country may receive modern fighter aircraft. He was apparently referring to F-16 jets.

China’s foreign ministry says Li is also scheduled to visit Poland, France, Germany and Russia.

Meanwhile, sources in the Japanese government say it has decided to accept around 10 to 20 wounded soldiers from Ukraine per year as part of programs to support the country.

The government made the decision after receiving a request from Ukraine for such support.

Japan has so far provided Ukraine with bulletproof vests, helmets and other supplies.

Sources told state television that it plans to accept two soldiers at the Self-Defense Force Central Hospital in Tokyo by a mid-June as an initial step.

The sources say the government is due to have the capability to accept around 10 to 20 soldiers per year if things go as planned.

The two soldiers expected to come to Japan have suffered serious injuries involving lower limb amputation. The sources say the injuries are assumed to require treatment lasting a month or two, including rehabilitation.

The cost per person is estimated at about 15,000 to 30,000 US dollars, including expenses for hospitalization, prosthetic legs and travel.